Apple Tree Legend: description and characteristics of the variety, rules for growing and caring for with a photo

In mid-latitudes, among all fruit plantations, apple trees are the most in demand. At each dacha, suburban area, there is always a place for these trees. Everyone knows the taste of apples since childhood, they are rich in vitamins, minerals, organic acids that cleanse the intestines, have an antiviral effect, and slow down the growth of cancer cells. The Legend apple tree is valued for its resistance to frost, ease of care, for the presence of immunity to many diseases, for the high commercial qualities of the fruit. The variety successfully replaces Antonovka, Calvil, Jonathan.

History of apple tree breeding Legend

Compact tree, growing to a height of 3 meters, bred at the Moscow Institute of Horticulture. The well-known breeder Viktor Kichin worked on its creation. The legend was obtained by crossing Cowberry and Fuji. In turn, a relative of the Japanese hybrid is the American variety Rolls Janet, from which the apple tree got excellent commercial qualities. The legend appeared in 1984, but was entered into the State Register much later - in 2008.

Advantages and disadvantages of culture

Working on the creation of a hybrid, a professor from the Institute of Horticulture took into account all the shortcomings of the parental varieties, paying special attention to the positive aspects. The advantages of the Legend include the fact that:

1. Apple tree is almost not affected by fungi and bacteria.
2. Tolerates extreme cold.
3. Low maintenance.
4. The tree has a compact size.
5. Adapts to extreme weather changes.

The disadvantage of a hybrid is that it does not produce a high yield every year. Fruits are stored less than apples of some other late varieties.

External characteristics

The description of the Russian hybrid interested summer residents, the owners of suburban areas, cottages and houses began to buy seedlings. The legend is also great for growing on an industrial basis.

Trunk height

The apple tree attracts by the fact that it takes up little space, does not reach up, it is very easy to get the fruits. The tree has shortened shoots, its trunk height rarely reaches 3 meters.

Crown diameter

The legend is distinguished by a small number of branches. The variety is great for small plots, as it is characterized by high yields, but has a compact crown with a diameter of less than a meter.

Root branching

To properly care for an apple tree, you need to know the features of its structure. A fruit tree, in addition to the aerial part, consisting of a stem, crown, shoots and forming branches, has a root system. In the Legend variety, it is not branched, but compact and located close to the surface. The earth in the trunk circle should be loosened no deeper than 10 cm.

Specifications

The hybrid, created in Russia, left behind the varieties on the basis of which it was bred, in many respects. The legend is valued for its high yield, commercial qualities of apples.

In what regions is it recommended to plant

The hybrid is grown in mid-latitudes. The tree is adapted to climate conditions, where the summer is short, cool, and the weather is often wet. The apple tree bears fruit not only in the Moscow region, but also in Siberia, in the south of the Urals, in the Leningrad region.

Sustainability

The Creator of the Legend managed to improve the technical characteristics of Cowberry with small apples and the Japanese variety, which does not withstand cold weather well, is not adapted to the conditions of central Russia.

To frost

Although the root system of the Legend is close to the surface of the earth, the tree normally tolerates sub-zero temperatures typical for winters in temperate regions.

To drought

The apple tree pleases with the harvest even in the hot summer, when there is no rain for a long time. The variety responds positively to watering, but is also adapted to prolonged drought.

To diseases and insects

Legend is resistant to bacterial and fungal infections. However, the spores are easily carried by the wind, and the apple tree can become infected from other fruit trees. In rainy weather, the hybrid sometimes suffers from scab.

Legend is resistant to many pests, but the prevention of codling sprouts will not hurt.

Crop productivity

Although the tree is not tall, it has a compact crown, but during the season it produces 10-12 buckets of apples, each weighing from 160 to 250 grams.

Beginning of fruiting

Legend's sapling pleases with the first fruit next summer. A full harvest can be obtained in 5-6 years.

Apples are harvested every season, but the number of fruits is affected by the weather, care.

Cultivar Pollinators

Self-infertile hybrids, to which Legend belongs, do not please with an abundance of fruits if there are no apple trees nearby that act as a pollinator. Borovinka, Melba, Northern Sinap are used for this purpose.

The time of flowering and ripening of apples

Fruits of late-ripening varieties, which is a hybrid bred in Russia, are harvested in September-October, the growing season depends on the climate of the region, usually the tree begins to bloom in May, in some areas at the beginning - in others in the middle of the month.

Tasting qualities

For the appearance of red apples weighing about 200 g, the hybrid received a rating of 4.5 points from experts, for taste - 5.

Transportability and storage

Legend's apples have a dense skin, are not damaged during transportation over long distances, therefore they are grown on an industrial basis. The fruits do not spoil for a long time, they are stored in a cool place until the New Year.

Fitting advice

In order for a tree to develop quickly and please with fruits, you need to choose a place for it where the shadow does not fall, the sun shines all day.

Autumn or spring planting

In the middle lane, the Legend normally takes root if you send an apple tree to open ground at the end of September or in the first decade of October. You can plant a tree in April, but the date is adjusted for the weather.

Soil Requirements

The Legenda variety grows well on chernozems and loams, meadow soils. If the water is close to the surface, make a drainage layer of broken brick or gravel. Sandy soil is not suitable for a fruit tree.

Optimal location and dimensions of the landing pit

Having chosen a site where the shadow does not fall, they remove part of the earth, combine it with humus, which improves aeration. After that, they dig a hole at least 70 cm deep and about a meter wide.

Procedure technology

A peg is driven into the middle of the prepared groove, next to it a tree is planted in the soil, straightening the roots, leaving the neck above the ground at approximately 50 mm. Water the apple tree abundantly. So that the water does not spread, after the seedling is accepted, they equip a low shaft in the root circle.

Growing conditions

Legend responds to care with early fruiting, a plentiful harvest of apples. Agrotechnical measures include:

• timely hydration;
• regular feeding;
• removal of weeds in the trunk circle;
• shortening shoots;
• crown formation.

You need to care for a hybrid in almost the same way as for other varieties of apple trees. With the first fruits, the Legend can thank already next fall.

Irrigation

If there is no rain, in the summer every 2 weeks they resort to moisturizing seedlings, 2 buckets of water are enough for one young plant, four for an adult. During a long drought, apple trees are watered more often.

Soil care

The earth in the near-stem circle is freed from weeds, after each rain and moisture, it is carefully loosened, but not deep, so as not to catch the roots.

Feeding

After planting the Legend apple tree in the spring, fertilizers are applied in which nitrogen is present. In summer, the tree needs potassium and phosphorus. Fertilizing fruit-bearing plants is done when buds appear. Organics and minerals are used.

Crown formation

To improve the appearance of the apple tree, increase yields every year resort to pruning. At the end of March or in the first decade of April:

1. Remove dead branches.
2. Thinning out the crown.
3. Short long and weak shoots.

The places of damage are covered with garden pitch. Sanitary pruning can be done in October when the apples are already picked.

Mulching and winterization

2 weeks after picking the fruit, the ground near the plant is carefully dug up, the trunk circle is cleaned of leaves, straw or other mulch, mineral fertilizers are applied, and the tree is watered.

So that the hares do not gnaw the trunk and branches, they are wrapped with roofing felt. Spruce spruce branches help to hold back the snow, the apple tree cannot be covered with leaves.

For the winter, the tree is treated with urea or iron sulphate, the fallen ovary is burned, in which pests and fungal spores start. Whitewashing with lime helps protect the trunk from freezing or sunburn. You can add fungicides to the solution.

Subspecies and variants

There are 2 ways landowners cultivate the Legend variety.

Dwarf

In order for the fruits on the tree to set at least a year earlier, the apple tree had a more compact shape, gardeners and summer residents of Russia grow a hybrid on a dwarf rootstock. The only downside to this method is that it reduces the lifespan of the tree.

Columnar

This option of planting the Legend apple tree is preferred by farmers who cultivate the variety in significant volumes. Fruit trees do not need a large area on columnar rootstocks. Only a specialist can form such a crown.

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